Fridae

Gay cinema has produced some of most original dramas we've seen on screen lately. Films like My Summer of Love, The Man of My Life and Quinceanera offer beautifully raw and honest observations about human nature. Indeed, homosexual relationships may be a spark that can start political firestorms, but they're also good grist for the dramatic mill.

Opening this week, Quinceanera is written and directed by openly-gay couple Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland. Their last film was an unimpressive gay romantic comedy set in the world of gay porn called The Fluffer. Quinceanera, however, is a much better film. And it certainly has the credentials to prove it: At this year's Sundance Film Festival, it scooped both the audience and jury prizes.

Sweet and touching, it tells a story of two Hispanic teenagers in Los Angeles who have been thrown out of their houses by their parents. One of them, Carlos, was found regularly surfing Internet gay pornsites. The other, 14-year-old Magdalena, is pregnant. The two are forced to move into their kind uncle's home, where they strike up a strange alliance.

Things get very complicated for Carlos when a wealthy middle-aged gay white couple (David W Ross and Jason L Wood) move into the condominium above their uncle's home. The two mature men find it hard to resist Carlos' young and exotic chocolate-mousse skin, so they immediately try to seduce him...

Although the gay elements of Quinceanera would certainly interest our LGBT viewers, we would be remiss in our duties if we didn't tell you that the movie is not just a gay movie. Quinceanera is also a beautiful coming-of-age story of Emily, as well as a lovely portrait of the Hispanic community in Los Angeles.

Charming, touching, honest and well-acted, Quinceanera is this week's die-die-must-see movie.